Tangrakottai, Ruined land fort in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, India

Tangrakottai is a ruined land fort of about 39.43 acres near Pappireddipatti, with an east-facing gate, a 20-foot-wide moat and a 25-foot-high rampart with cannon platforms. Inside are a ruined palace, a large tank, four corner tanks, a water pavilion, a horse stable and five temples, including the Kalyana Ramaswamy temple at its centre.

Thenkaraikottai was built in the 14th century by Seelappa Nayakkar and Chennappa Nayakkar of the Vijayanagara Empire. In 1652 the fort was captured by Mohammed Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur; the Tamil source names the Mysore ruler Udayar instead. In 1768 Colonel Wood took it for the British, and Hyder Ali retook it the same year.

The fort's name means "south bank fort" because it stands on the southern bank of the Salakandeswarar river. Inside are five shrines: Kalyana Ramaswamy, Nanjundeswarar, Vinayagar, Sanjeenarayan and Murugan. Devotees believe Rama here, seated in a rare posture, removes obstacles and helps worshippers find a life partner.

The fort lies about 40 km from Dharmapuri on the road toward Harur, near Ramyampatti, with its gateway facing east. The west side borders Ramyampatti village, the south a lake and the north the Salakandeswarar river. Expect ruined, unmaintained ground: a 20-ft-wide moat, a 25-ft rampart and scattered structures.

The fort's name comes from its position on the southern bank of the Salakandeswarar river: thenkarai means south bank in Tamil. Its moat is about twenty feet wide and the rampart behind it rises twenty-five feet, with cannon platforms along the top.